Speaking during a roundtable with journalists in
2023, Ruto defended his decision, citing the late General Francis Ogolla’s
credentials as the deciding factor in his appointment as CDF, despite Ogolla
being implicated in efforts to undermine the 2022 presidential election
results.
“General Ogolla is among the people who went to Bomas to try
and overturn my victory.”
“Do you know that?”
“But because when I looked at his CV, he was the best person
to be general,” Ruto defended his appointment.
General Ogolla then 60, was elevated to a four-star general
amid a chorus of dissent from within the ruling coalition.
This was exacerbated by accusations made by former
Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC),
Wafula Chebukati, who stated that Ogolla was a member of a group of National
Security Council members who attempted to manipulate the results of the
election to favour Raila Odinga's victory or a runoff.
The President argued his decision was not made lightly, as he
acknowledged having other candidates for the position but chose Ogolla against
the advice of many.
“I could have appointed anybody. I had, I think, 10 choices,”
Ruto stated.
He went on to narrate, “I called him, and I sat him down.”
“I told him, my friend, you went to Bomas to try and
overturn my victory.”
“But because you are the best person to be general, I'm
going to give you the job.”
“That is how it works with me.”
In defending his pick, Ruto asserted that regional balance
was playing in his mind with a keen awareness of historical ethnic
representation within national roles.
“Since independence, there is nobody from Nyanza who has ever
been CDF.”
“And it also played in my mind that I don't want a situation
where a whole community thinks they cannot occupy a certain office,” Ruto
elaborated.
The
Kenyan DAILY POST
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